With the arrival of the redesigned Start menu in the latest Windows 11 Dev channel build, Microsoft appears to be responding directly to longstanding user frustrations about advertising and clutter creeping into one of Windows’ most iconic interfaces. As this overhaul rolls out to testers, it’s not only the visual design making headlines but also a suite of flexible, privacy-respecting features that may signal a broader shift in how Microsoft adapts the Windows experience for modern demands.
For decades, the Start menu has served as the command center for Windows users—a launchpad for productivity, discovery, and personalization. Yet, in recent years, it also became the battleground for complaints about bloat, advertising, and awkward design choices. The Windows 11 redesign, currently live for Windows Insiders in build 26200.5641, addresses many of these pain points with a single scrollable panel, intelligent resizing, and, most notably, the option to finally disable the contentious “recommended” section that often hosts promotions and unwanted suggestions.
Critically, the “All Apps” section isn’t just a basic list anymore. Windows 11 now introduces two new organizational views:
From an SEO and discoverability standpoint, this feature is likely to be a magnet for search queries like “how to turn off Start menu ads in Windows 11,” offering Microsoft an easy win in the court of public opinion.
Microsoft’s decision to give users more control over what occupies their Start menu reflects a maturing philosophy—one that acknowledges that forced advertising disrupts workflow and erodes trust. While it is too early to declare victory (this is, after all, just a test build), the ability to clear the midsection could meaningfully reduce distractions and help Windows 11 appeal to more discerning professionals and home users alike.
If your setup is minimalist—few pinned apps, seldom-used recommendations—the menu contracts to fit. On larger displays or with a denser app array, it expands fluidly, ensuring every pixel serves a purpose. This context-aware behavior is paired with the collapsible Phone Link panel, which can be hidden with a single click for those uninterested in cross-device integration.
Such adaptability ensures that power users and casual users alike experience a Start menu tailored to their habits, reducing wasted space and the cognitive overhead of navigating redundant panels.
While previously available only in European test regions, all Insiders now gain the ability to pick and choose which widgets appear on the lock screen. This new widget management empowers users to blend utility with aesthetics, coordinating calendars, weather updates, or news feeds as desired.
Such customization (long a hallmark of Android and other operating systems) shows Microsoft is intent on multiplying use cases for the PC, moving Windows closer to the smartphone experience—agnostic, modular, and user-defined.
Allowing users to opt out of advertising in the Start menu is a meaningful, if partial, concession. Yet it is equally plausible that this move is calibrated to defuse criticism while continuing to experiment with monetization elsewhere. Users should monitor whether other system areas see increased promotional content as direct Start menu recommendations are disabled.
From a business perspective, Microsoft may be testing how many users actually exercise this new control and what impact, if any, it has on engagement with featured apps and services.
Still, there’s an undercurrent of skepticism. Veteran users recall several instances when Microsoft has introduced privacy-enhancing or decluttering features in preview builds, only to scale them back ahead of final release. The consensus is to remain cautiously optimistic until these changes make it beyond the Dev channel and are exposed to broader A/B testing in Beta and Release Preview rings.
Conversely, if these toggles are quietly buried, or if new advertising vectors emerge elsewhere, critics will cite the redesign as merely a gesture rather than structural change. Industry watchdogs and privacy advocates will certainly keep a close watch on how telemetry, data usage, and advertising are handled in future builds.
For now, power users and early adopters can seize a significant win—testing, refining, and advocating for more user-first changes as Windows 11’s roadmap evolves.
Yet the true measure of success will be how Microsoft balances design, monetization, and user preference. If Windows 11 fully embraces customization and privacy—without simply moving ads from one pane to another—it will set a new standard for what users should demand from their desktops.
As testing continues, all eyes remain on Microsoft’s next moves. The promise is clear: a faster, cleaner, and more respectful Start menu that foregrounds user choice. The reality, as ever, will be defined by execution—and how far Microsoft is willing to go in putting its millions of users first.
Source: TweakTown Redesigned Start menu now in testing finally lets us turn off some of the adverts in Windows 11
A Fresh Take on the Start Menu
For decades, the Start menu has served as the command center for Windows users—a launchpad for productivity, discovery, and personalization. Yet, in recent years, it also became the battleground for complaints about bloat, advertising, and awkward design choices. The Windows 11 redesign, currently live for Windows Insiders in build 26200.5641, addresses many of these pain points with a single scrollable panel, intelligent resizing, and, most notably, the option to finally disable the contentious “recommended” section that often hosts promotions and unwanted suggestions.One Unified, Scrollable Panel
The new Start menu abandons the old two-panel approach—where apps and recommendations were split by a click—in favor of a clean, vertical arrangement. Pinned apps reside at the top, the recommendations panel sits underneath, and the “All Apps” list follows. This structure is a welcome simplification for both casual and power users, offering immediate, at-a-glance access without toggling between panes.Critically, the “All Apps” section isn’t just a basic list anymore. Windows 11 now introduces two new organizational views:
- Categories View: Apps are sorted into use-case or function-based groups, enhancing discoverability.
- Grid View: Provides a concise, icon-driven layout, reducing visual fatigue compared to the classic endless list.
Turning Off Recommendations: A User-Driven Victory
Perhaps the headline feature is the ability to disable the recommendations panel completely. For years, the midsection of the Start menu became a delivery vehicle for advertisements, promos for Microsoft services, and other “suggestions” that many considered intrusive. Now, thanks to user feedback and a surge of complaints spotlighted by insiders and tech journalists, Windows 11 testers can reclaim this space.From an SEO and discoverability standpoint, this feature is likely to be a magnet for search queries like “how to turn off Start menu ads in Windows 11,” offering Microsoft an easy win in the court of public opinion.
Microsoft’s decision to give users more control over what occupies their Start menu reflects a maturing philosophy—one that acknowledges that forced advertising disrupts workflow and erodes trust. While it is too early to declare victory (this is, after all, just a test build), the ability to clear the midsection could meaningfully reduce distractions and help Windows 11 appeal to more discerning professionals and home users alike.
Intelligent Resizing: Adaptive by Design
Screen size and resolution diversity have long perplexed interface designers, especially when considering users juggling ultrawide monitors, touch devices, or tiny laptops. The new Start menu introduces intelligent resizing, automatically adapting its layout based on the amount of pinned content, screen dimension, and user preference.If your setup is minimalist—few pinned apps, seldom-used recommendations—the menu contracts to fit. On larger displays or with a denser app array, it expands fluidly, ensuring every pixel serves a purpose. This context-aware behavior is paired with the collapsible Phone Link panel, which can be hidden with a single click for those uninterested in cross-device integration.
Such adaptability ensures that power users and casual users alike experience a Start menu tailored to their habits, reducing wasted space and the cognitive overhead of navigating redundant panels.
More Personalization: App Views and Lock Screen Widgets
The redesigned Start menu isn’t just about trimming fat—it also introduces new opportunities for users to shape their workflow. Besides the aforementioned app views, Windows 11 Dev build expands personal choice with lock screen widget selection.While previously available only in European test regions, all Insiders now gain the ability to pick and choose which widgets appear on the lock screen. This new widget management empowers users to blend utility with aesthetics, coordinating calendars, weather updates, or news feeds as desired.
Such customization (long a hallmark of Android and other operating systems) shows Microsoft is intent on multiplying use cases for the PC, moving Windows closer to the smartphone experience—agnostic, modular, and user-defined.
Critical Analysis: Strengths and Subtle Pitfalls
Notable Strengths
- User Respect and Control: The ability to disable Start menu recommendations demonstrates a rare willingness by Microsoft to yield to user input—not just through telemetry, but by acting on direct, vocal feedback.
- Streamlined Design: Merging Start menu functions into a single, scrollable panel significantly simplifies the interface, reducing friction and making navigation far more intuitive.
- Flexible App Organization: The new app views—categories and grid—make the Start menu more navigable and visually appealing, providing alternatives that can fit different working styles.
- Intelligent Adaptation: Resizing the menu to fit the display context saves space and improves the overall experience, especially for those with varying hardware.
- Lock Screen Widget Choice: As desktop and mobile experiences increasingly overlap, this widget customization pushes Windows 11 forward as a truly modern OS.
Potential Risks and Unresolved Questions
Despite the positive direction, it’s crucial to temper expectations:- Feature Tested, Not Final: As this overhaul is still in Dev channel preview, it remains susceptible to change—or potentially, to being delayed or dropped altogether. Microsoft has reversed course on user-friendly features before, often citing telemetry or monetization goals.
- Not All Ads May Be Gone: While users can now disable recommendations in the Start menu, other vectors for advertising—like lock screen promos, taskbar notifications, or Edge pop-ups—may persist. There is a risk that disabling one “recommendation” channel simply results in advertising being redistributed elsewhere.
- Implications for New Users: It’s unclear if the recommendations panel will still be enabled by default for new accounts or PCs. Power users will know how to disable it, but less experienced users may not, limiting the true reach of this improvement.
- App Discovery Trade-Off: Hiding recommendations also means new or occasionally used apps, recently edited documents, or system tips could be less apparent. Some users, particularly in enterprise or educational contexts, may actually find value in these suggestions if wisely curated.
- Complexity Creep: While the new options offer freedom, they also multiply the number of settings screens and customization layers, potentially overwhelming less technical users.
The Bigger Picture: Microsoft, Monetization, and the Future of Windows
The redesign comes amid a fraught debate over the role of advertising and data in modern desktop operating systems. Microsoft, like Google and Apple, continues to inch towards a service-based model—where cross-promotion of subscriptions (Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Copilot, Edge) is an important revenue stream. Industry analysts have flagged the proliferation of ads within Windows as both a business necessity and a potential public relations hazard if not implemented judiciously.Allowing users to opt out of advertising in the Start menu is a meaningful, if partial, concession. Yet it is equally plausible that this move is calibrated to defuse criticism while continuing to experiment with monetization elsewhere. Users should monitor whether other system areas see increased promotional content as direct Start menu recommendations are disabled.
From a business perspective, Microsoft may be testing how many users actually exercise this new control and what impact, if any, it has on engagement with featured apps and services.
Community Reaction: Relief and Skepticism
Early feedback from the tester community, as aggregated from social media, forums, and comments on insider blog posts, has been largely positive. Many see this as an overdue course correction—a symbolic turning point after months of rising dissatisfaction with Windows 11’s direction.Still, there’s an undercurrent of skepticism. Veteran users recall several instances when Microsoft has introduced privacy-enhancing or decluttering features in preview builds, only to scale them back ahead of final release. The consensus is to remain cautiously optimistic until these changes make it beyond the Dev channel and are exposed to broader A/B testing in Beta and Release Preview rings.
Expert Analysis: What Comes Next?
The success of this Start menu redesign hinges on two key variables: Microsoft’s commitment to user autonomy, and the company’s ongoing attempts to diversify its revenue. If user-controlled advertising toggles expand beyond the Start menu—to notifications, the lock screen, and beyond—then Windows 11 could regain some lost goodwill.Conversely, if these toggles are quietly buried, or if new advertising vectors emerge elsewhere, critics will cite the redesign as merely a gesture rather than structural change. Industry watchdogs and privacy advocates will certainly keep a close watch on how telemetry, data usage, and advertising are handled in future builds.
For now, power users and early adopters can seize a significant win—testing, refining, and advocating for more user-first changes as Windows 11’s roadmap evolves.
Final Thoughts: Where Usability Meets Autonomy
The debut of a revamped Start menu, headlined by the ability to turn off recommendations, is more than a cosmetic update—it’s a litmus test for Microsoft’s willingness to listen and adapt in real time. The move toward a single, scrollable panel, advanced app sorting, and enhanced widget management signals a renewed focus on productivity and personalization.Yet the true measure of success will be how Microsoft balances design, monetization, and user preference. If Windows 11 fully embraces customization and privacy—without simply moving ads from one pane to another—it will set a new standard for what users should demand from their desktops.
As testing continues, all eyes remain on Microsoft’s next moves. The promise is clear: a faster, cleaner, and more respectful Start menu that foregrounds user choice. The reality, as ever, will be defined by execution—and how far Microsoft is willing to go in putting its millions of users first.
Source: TweakTown Redesigned Start menu now in testing finally lets us turn off some of the adverts in Windows 11
